DisplayPort is a type of connection that are used to send video from a computer to a monitor. The version of DisplayPort that a computer or monitor have will determine the resolution and refresh rate of the display. A person may find a DisplayPort port on their computer, but unless they understands that the version of DisplayPort will dictate the performance of that port and monitor connection, they may not be able to use their monitor at the resolution or refresh rate that they would like.
If the version of DisplayPort has too low a resolution and refresh rate compared than the monitor, the monitor will not be able to display any video signals at all. DisplayPort may use different type of physical connectors, such as full-size DisplayPort, Mini DisplayPort, USB-C using Alt Mode, or Thunderbolt connection. Each of these connectors have the same functionality, but a person will not be able to determine the bandwidth that the connection will provide by examining the physical connection.
DisplayPort Versions, Cables and Compatibility
For instance, two laptop may have the same type of port, but one laptop may have a newer version of DisplayPort than the other laptop. DisplayPort versions can have different capability based off the resolution and refresh rate of the monitor that is being use. For instance, many monitors has resolutions and refresh rates of 1080p or 1440p at 60 hz, and most DisplayPort versions can support those specifications.
However, higher refresh rates of 120hz, 144hz, and 4K monitor may require additional bandwidth that an older version of DisplayPort may not provide. Display Stream Compression (DSC) is a feature that can be implement into DisplayPort to increase the amount of data that the connection carries. The compression technology maintain the quality of the image that is sent from the computer to the monitor, but allows more data to be transmit.
For this function to work, both the graphics card and the monitor must support this feature. If both components support DSC, it will automatically be enable, but it will not be enabled if either that graphics card or monitor dont support the feature. Another feature of DisplayPort is call Multi-Stream Transport (MST).
This feature allows a computer to send video and display signals to multiple monitors through one DisplayPort connection. The signal is divide between each monitor, but the bandwidth of the DisplayPort connection must be able to support each monitor. For instance, attempting to connect two 4K monitors to an older DisplayPort version will likely result in not enough bandwidth for each monitor.
It would of been necessary for the user to reduce the resolution and refresh rate of each monitor. Finally, another important aspect of DisplayPort are the cables that are used to connect the computers and monitors. The DisplayPort cable must be able to handle the bandwidth that the monitors require.
For instance, a DisplayPort cable that is able to handle 1080p connections may become a problem if attempting to use it with monitors with higher resolution. Using a cable that isnt rated for the amount of data and bandwidth that is necessary for the monitors could lead to black screen or not being able to reach the refresh rate that is provided for those monitors. Thus, another step for those who wish to use DisplayPort is to ensure that the DisplayPort cable is rated for the amount of data that is required.
Finally, there are two main types of display connection: DisplayPort and HDMI. DisplayPort is mainly used for monitors and computers, while HDMI is mainly used for TVs and home theater connection devices. Neither standard provide one advantage over the other, so each user will have to choose which standard to use with their computer and monitor.
In order to successfully implement DisplayPort on a computer and monitor, each of these aspect must be inspected and purchased accordingly: the DisplayPort version number for the graphics card, the DisplayPort cable, and the monitors specifications to ensure that they are compatible with the DisplayPort version and signal.